Rasa Fusion Kitchen and Bar to open at former Nicolinis site in Surfers Paradise

After the sudden closure of one of the Gold Coast’s longest running restaurants, a new venue is set to open at the prominent corner site. FIND OUT MORE

Rasa is opening at the former Nicolinis site in Surfers Paradise on Monday. Owners Poorna Muppalla, Madhu Medasani and Chaithanya Raya Medasani in front of the new restaurant. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

New life is about to be breathed into the former site of one of the Gold Coast’s longest-running restaurants in the heart of the Glitter Strip.

Rasa Fusion Kitchen and Bar will open on Monday at the prominent corner site in Surfers Paradise formerly occupied by Italian institution Nicolinis.

Nicolinis’ colourful history – spanning five decades and multiple owners on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Alison St – ended with its final closure in September.

Rasa owner Madhu Meda­sani said it had taken six months for them to completely renovate the site.

“It’s brand new,” he said.

“We thought it was only going to take about two to three months … but we are ready to open now.”

Founded by Jack Ulliana in the early 1970s, Nicolinis ran for more than five decades.

In its heyday, the venue was popular among city movers and shakers and property players making business deals over lunch. The late Gold Coast property doyen Max Christmas once described it as “like a little Italy”.

Then Nicolinis owner Jack Ulliana and his son Paul Ulliana in 2005. Picture: Richard Webb

Gold Coast couple John and Nives Ceccato took over the business in 2017 due to Mr Ulliana’s ill health.

Mr Ulliana’s involvement with the institution he founded came to a close after he developed Alzheimer’s.

The Ceccatos – who were friends with Mr Ulliana and also ran a food supply business – later sold it to a Melbourne family, with Toni Celona, known as Toni “Two Guns”, taking on the manager role.

Mr Celona founded another well-known Gold Coast Italian venue, La Porchetta, in the 1990s before selling it in 2005.

Murray and Helen Taylor then took over Nicolinis from the Celonas and ran it until its sudden closure last year.

Now named Rasa, it will be Mr Medasani’s fourth restaurant on the Coast but the first he has “built from scratch”.

He and his wife Chaithanya Raya Medasani took over Paradise Point cafe Relish about five years ago, Surfers Paradise restaurant Spice Venue three years ago and Paradise Point pizza bar ­Bridges earlier this year.

“This is our baby,” he said. “We are very excited.”

Mr Medasani said Rasa would have a continental breakfast and lunch menu with organically roasted coffee, before serving up Italian dishes at dinner as a nod to the site’s predecessor.

Rasa Fusion Kitchen and Bar will open on Monday from 7am at 3106 Surfers Paradise Blvd in Surfers Paradise.

Originally published as Rasa Fusion Kitchen and Bar to open at former Nicolinis site in Surfers Paradise